Posts Tagged ‘DHS’

There is a well needed debate ongoing in the Country concerning the rights of individual US citizens versus the need for protective measures against worldwide terrorism. On the one side are those who would give the government nearly unlimited powers in the name of “safety”. On the other are those who would strip the government of any power not specifically granted in the U.S. Constitution. This is a complex argument with reasonable people on both sides. While compromise is in order, rarely does the government and its bureaucrats relinquish power and authority.

Below is a video exchange between Republican Congressman Trey Gowdy and Department of Homeland Security official Kelli Ann Burriesci. The discussion involves Americans’ individual rights under the Constitution, specifically one of the most important ones, due process. This exchange is of concern for not only because it does it shows shallowness of one important bureaucrat, but also her seeming lack of concern for rights given all Americans under the Constitution.

In another sign of government gone wild, The Hill has reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is giving high priority to “protecting” the American people from global warming. DHS’s quarterly report report lists climate change as one of its top priorities saying it “present major areas of homeland security risk”.

Evidently DHS has greater concern about the potential effects of climate change than ISIS. No wonder the terrorists are growing in strength throughout the world.

The Department of Homeland Security started under the Bush Administration in response to the 9/11 attacks. It has since grown to approximately 240,000 employees with an annual budget of nearly $40 billion. These huge numbers are just another indication of how government agencies grow after being seeded. These agencies become self-perpetuating, as they grab for power and taxpayer funds. DHS’s jump from protecting America from terrorists to potential climate change affects is a prime example of the corruption of government.

There are various arguments that can be made that would indicate that the theory of man-made global warming is suspect. However, assuming for the moment that man is radically changing the environment, one indication that science is not being appropriately used in the discussion is the one sided conclusions offered concerning the potential climate change. All effects are promoted as negative, which in itself is absurd. Any climate change has positive and negative impacts on different parts of the globe. To suggest otherwise is an indication of the fallacy of the science and the bias of the argument.

While the Obama Administration has been on a crusade against gun ownership by private citizens, it has been on a significant purchasing binge for branches of the government. Initially, this dichotomy caught the attention only in the Blogosphere. It has since obtained press in mainstream and respected publications.

On February 17 USAtoday.com published an article titled Gun dealers report shortages of ammunition that reported on the shortage of gun ammo in the United States. It attributed the shortages to fear of Americans concerning the political climate that might restrict future access to firearms their ammunition, as well as fear of potential economic dislocations. In addition, USA Today reported on significant gun purchases by the federal government that include:

Department of Homeland Security – The DHS put out a solicitation for 1.1 billion rounds of ammunition over the next five years. According to DHS spokesman Marsha Catron, this ammunition is required for training 130,000 agents in various agencies. That’s a lot of practice!

Social Security Administration – The Social Security Administration in 2012 put out a bid for 174,000 rounds of .357 ammunition. The .357 round is one of the most powerful revolver rounds produced even though .357 revolvers can also shoot the smaller 38 special round. When questioned about the purchase the Social Security Administration indicated the bullets are required to arm and train their 295 agents.

In addition, the DHS is acquiring 7,000 5.56x 45mm NATO rifles that they referred to as “personal defense weapons”. These rifles look nearly identical to those the Obama Administration calls “assault rifles” when owed by civilians. However, there is a major difference. The weapons the DHS will buy are fully automatic, not the less lethal semiautomatic weapons that the Obama Administration is attempting to restrict for citizens. In addition, the DHS is purchasing 30 round magazines, again an item the Obama Administration would restrict for private citizens.

Included below is an editorial published on the website of Investor’s Business Daily. This editorial is not only of interest because of the message raised, but also because it is included in a well-respected mainstream publication.

The government’s gun buying spree raises important questions. Why does the Department of Homeland Security require 7,000 weapons that are more lethal than those the Obama Administration would strict from private citizens? Why are varying government agencies purchasing so many weapons if we live in a safe society? What is the purpose of these purchases? The American People have a right to have answers.

While President Obama and his liberal allies including Sen. Dianne Feinstein attempt to outlaw so-called “assault rifles” from ordinary citizens, they are purchasing even more dangerous versions for the government. On June 7, 2012 the Department of Homeland Security posted a solicitationfor the purchase of 7,000 of the weapons capable of firing 5.56x 45mm rounds. Unlike the so-called “assault rifles” the government would ban for civilians, these 7,000 weapons will be fully automatic.

Adding to the governmental hypocrisy, the buying service, General Service Administration (GSA) doesn’t even call the weapons they are purchasing “assault rifles”. Instead, they refer to them as “Personal Defense Weapons” (PDW) and further state that they are “suitable for personal defense use in close quarters.” Let’s see; governmental officials require these weapons for personal defense but ordinary civilians do not. What a perversion of Second Amendment to the Constitution.

The promotional video below was released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its purported goal is to help American’s spot unusual behavior that might relate to terrorism and report them to the government. Its production is sleek, but eerily similar to the government films of the 1950s that asked American’s to report on Commies in ther midst.

While Progressives in government continually rail against “profiling”, the DHS’s video seems to be a poster child for this behavior. As you view the video, note the gender of the terrorists and their skin color. Then do the same for the patriotic Americans reporting the suspicious behavior. It is evident that the DHS’s definition of profiling is mired in political correctness.